Hamas, Israel edge toward 2nd phase ceasefire

Palestinian militant group Hamas has expressed willingness to discuss laying down its weapons as part of the truce deal with Israel, while Tel Aviv has also signaled readiness for the deal to move to a new phase "shortly".

The latest developments come after United States-based Axios and some other media outlets reported last week that US President Donald Trump plans to announce before Christmas that the Gaza peace process will be moving into its second phase "pretty soon".

In an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas' political bureau, voiced the group's openness to a "comprehensive approach" to avoid further escalations and clashes. The remarks, made in Qatar and published on Monday, were issued following continued Gaza attacks in recent weeks as Israel and Hamas trade blame for ceasefire violations.

Naim also told the AP that they welcome a United Nations force — an international stabilization force, a contentious topic floated in recent weeks among mediators and peace partners — to be deployed near the borders to supervise the ceasefire and report any violations. However, he said they do not accept that the forces "have any kind of mandate authorizing them to do or to be implemented inside the Palestinian territories".

Last week, Israel stirred depopulation concerns after it announced it would open the Rafah crossing, a border shared between Gaza and Egypt, for Palestinians to exit. The move prompted eight Arab and Muslim-majority countries to issue a statement of concern and reject any move outright that attempts to displace Palestinians from their land, and demand full adherence to Trump's peace plan.

At the Doha Forum over the weekend, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the Israel-Hamas ceasefire had reached a "critical moment", Qatar News Agency reported.

Meanwhile, during a news conference in Jerusalem with visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said Israel and Hamas are ready to move to the second phase of the truce.

According to a statement published by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Netanyahu said he discussed how to bring an end to Hamas' rule in Gaza as an "essential part of ensuring a different future for Gaza and a different future for us, facing Gaza".

"Phase one, we're almost there. We have one more deceased hostage, Ran Gvili, a hero of Israel, to return here. And then we very shortly expect to move into the second phase, which is more difficult, or equally difficult," said Netanyahu, as he credited Israel's military action and Trump's "effective diplomatic action in bringing the Arab and Muslim world" to pressure Hamas into giving up the hostages.

"Now we have a second phase, no less daunting, and that is to achieve the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza," he added.

Hamas has consistently held the position that laying down its weapons is linked to Israel ending its occupation and aggression. Hamas also said it would surrender its weapons to a future Palestinian governing authority in postwar Gaza.

Attacks continue

Despite recent diplomatic developments, reports of Israeli aggression continued.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees said that a large number of Israeli forces stormed its headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, in the early hours of Monday, WAFA News Agency reported.

On Sunday, Israeli settlers continued to bulldoze and plow agricultural lands in various areas of the northern Jordan Valley.

"Israel is demanding that Hamas lay down its arms without fulfilling the terms of the agreement itself," Haydar Oruc, a former researcher at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies in Turkiye, told China Daily.

He said that in order to move to the second phase of the agreement, Israel must first completely cease its attacks, allow humanitarian aid to enter, and ensure that the interim administration and stabilization force are established and begin their duties as soon as possible.

"Israel's objections to Turkiye and Qatar, which are planned to be part of the stabilization force, are prolonging the process, delaying peace both in Gaza and in the region," said Oruc.

"If Israel's obstruction of the process is not prevented and pressure on Israel is not increased, there is a risk that the entire ceasefire and peace plan will collapse," he added.

Agencies contributed to this story.